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I was just reading a book speaking and defending Christ and the Holy Bible versus a cult group. It is a common cult began around the 19th century and is still common to this day. It has got me wondering, do I love people around me?

I mean as in a person commanded by God, do I really care if I avoid witnessing? Too often is it easy to avoid something if one doesn’t come across teasing, spiritual attack at times, and even serious persecution. But the Lord has commanded us.

I think of so many people even ones I have contact with on a daily basis. Do I really love them if I avoid sharing during at least one moment Christ to them? It’s worth it even with all the name-calling and negative responses I might get.

In my country a lot of Christians avoid talking about God because its too easy but ones should think of this. Do you want all the people you don’t know if they know Jesus to go to hell? I think not!

If we don’t we should all love first… then pray and depend on the Holy Spirit as the Word will help us with the rest. Seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness… it’s all good to the great God who is love.

This is totally unexpected for me which makes it kind of exciting. I put the title as this because I looked back and saw I didn’t call the last time I called this a devotion but did tag it as “holy word” so hopefully it will be linked to this in the suggestions below the article after one clicks it.

My church had one class that just ended and before it did we went over Acts 17 (we went from verse 16 to 27). I might not get to that part here because something came up while getting to read the earlier part. I have not read much of the bible so getting into it for the first time for myself was nice. I hope to go over these parts again and again during my personal devotions in the future as they will be as exciting as these times right now!

When you read the bible you always find something new. As you grow more you will find something else that you hadn’t noticed; it is evident you are growing more in the Lord as God also blesses you when you read His word.

So to get on, I just wanted to read the earlier part of this chapter in case I was unfamiliar with it. Then this devotion came about. SO here we go…!

Paul went through Amphipolis and Apollonia and ended up at a synagogue in Thessalonica. Then as his custom he spoke to them about the scriptures for three Sabbaths. (verse 3para.) explaining, Christ had to suffer, die and rose from the dead: “This Jesus whom I speak to you is the Christ.” (verse 4para.) Some responded and then a huge group of devout Greeks and more than few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

But the Jews who had not responded in a positive way, had taken people from the marketplace, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason. They sought to bring the people out from there. But they could not find them so they dragged Jason and some of the brethren to the rulers of the city. They were mad that they had harbored the people who were against what they believed, they spoke of a king named Jesus and that was not their king Caesar. And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things spoken. (verse 9) So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

(finally, verse 10-15 para.) The brethren sent Paul and Silas by night to Berea. There they went to the synagogue at that location and the response there was blessed. They responded greatly, many examining the scriptures to see if what was said about those things were true. They reacted better than the ones who were at Thessalonica. Yet the people from Thessalonica heard this was happening in Berea, so they then went there and stirred up the crowds. So the brethren sent Paul to the sea while Timothy and Silas remained there in the land. So Paul was then conducted by a group to go to Athens. Then after a command Timothy and Silas would soon be headed there also.

It’s so sad when people get so stubborn or bent on “attacking” others over belief. Here in America it seems to happen all the time. People pull bibles out of school, take the Ten Commandments out of any governmental building, are outraged when God is mentioned just inside their comfort zones.

To many people it seems belief in God “stirs up” the feelings of people in response of sin. This is unresolved sin. We all have been enemies of God, easily grown by our own way separate from Him.

When all people want to argue on what they feel is the truth people get passionate but they can get the wrong kind of passion. This here seems to be a response by Satan. Every time truth was extolled, there were these people ready to pour in, stir up people to get them angry, and they were making trouble in the land; in this case did so in two places, at first in Thessalonica, then they travelled to continue this kind of anarchy into Berea.

God always helps the ones who want to serve and live for Him. While we see things here that might be discouraging to Paul, Silas, and the others serving for Christ we also see that they get refuge and are protected within all of it as well. It’s such a wonderful image.

If you want to serve Him, delve into a ministry. Surely you won’t like the barrage of the devil’s attacks but greater the wisdom in you as you trust in Christ, by His blood and be guided by His way. There is an amazing journey if you want to live by serving and also seeking for the kingdom of God, let His light shine in your heart and you will see.

I should not only think this as our church’s Missions Conference is coming up and it is to disciple but that is one commandment of God we sometimes neglect to think about.

We should as a church guide others spiritually to help mature the body but also to make servant disciples of Jesus Christ. It is God’s goal that His word be spread everywhere the one following Jesus will go for their mission so it must be so and intentionally done.

For too long I have felt like ones within the church. I kept letting feelings and insecurities hold me back, thinking that I lost Christ’s calling at least once every year but it is not true (it probably was a tactic from Satan to think that way).

And now I hope you desire if you spend time in His word when you can to do so for people of your church or join one to gain fellowship, guidance, and learning of what the bible tells of through the books of amazing stories. Talk to new people visiting and get to know them. Also share Christ with people that if spirit-led would be situations of opportunities presented by God’s will. He will give you chances, then people will by Christ’s power be saved!

I want to be one of many who want to share with each other as we are united by His blood and now share each others love and gifts within God’s family.

Be like a disciple-maker today!

Jesus said:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. ~Matthew 28, verse 19

My devotion this day this sentence posted 5/20: “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Phil. 4:9. Wow thank you Lord.

First off I want to tell everyone that I respect you and love you with all my heart. No one deserved what had just happened. I have been going through grief with personal things but what happened has effected so many lives and I want to tell all the families that it was wrong that those people died. I know that God cares for you too.

I have had a lot of troubles with dealing with grief. I know now that while it is tough I know (and YOU should know) that no one ever goes through it alone. Strike that. No one should go through it alone.

I have seen from complicated emotions losing my appetite, forgetting what day it is or hour (doesn’t matter that I have a job, grief doesn’t give a break or let people off!), and have even thought of death.

Regret was a word as big as an ocean. “Why didn’t I say this….? I would have been a better friend and he’d still be here.” 😦

(I admit just writing that statement got me teary-eyed because it’s so true).

No one should lose a close friend to suicide, but all grief journeys are like a walk through life: there is no grief journey that is the same but yet in a way they are not much different either.

A lot of lives were lost today… so many victims killed in what sounds like an action out of hate. There was nothing right in the act, I hope the survivors know this.

That within all this tragic loss there is still a god who loves them. God still loved those people that died. He is probably heart-broken at this.

No matter what a person goes through God still loves us. It’s just sometimes we might refuse to listen.

I have testimony regarding certain things. Know that no matter what you struggle with you are still loved by Christ Jesus. No one is ever outside of His Father’s will. Nobody and I can attest to this..!

This is a trying moment, a terrible thing that has happened which the press heartlessly jumps all over and wants as much attention as possible. I hope they leave the families alone because if they didn’t, they are almost as bad as some heartless people.

But within all this sin that is the press sometimes there is still hope. It’s just where you might not realize it.

If you think you are too far gone, God and Jesus are just around the corner. There is love that is revealed in the midst of pain. Sometimes it takes the worst situation to bring us to the God of Love. But it doesn’t have to always take that step.

Did you know that Jesus loves you know matter what you go through? It is true and Amen.

Did you know that God wants something simple from you? Just to receive love. That love is as simple as a present without a ribbon.

We must take every day as a gift from God. I love to see the sunrise or the day seemingly waking up in my part of the world.

It’s so beautiful! I don’t know what it is but to me there is just something about it.

So what moves you?

Is it early days, mornings where you are with loved ones? What keeps you going? I hope you strive for that every moment when you get the chance.

When you cry know that God keeps every tear in His hand. One day on this earth He will wipe away every tear! It might not happen right now but it will one day. Isn’t this news just wonderful? And it is true.

Did you know that God loves you. I am surprised He ever loved or loves me! His mercy amazes me, His forgiveness of my sin is new every morning and every day.

My sin is every moment however short those times in between are but His love is available always. It is available always. Amen!!

I so wish people got to know my church more often. It is full of people with such love I can’t even get it, understand it sometimes. Their love is reflective to my life. It has made me know to love them every time I see them because I don’t deserve theirs.

I only say this as me, an individual, I don’t think people should see their selves that way towards the church in general.

But in the church’s dwelling place is hearts transformed by Christ. He can invade any heart by pouring it out on the broken, the people who realize they cannot do anything without Him.

I have been broken before. In fact I was so deep in sin, I struggled with something that was not much different than what the people in that club were like as well. This is not good to admit, in fact I am ashamed so bear with me here…

I was hurt because I was toiling endlessly like I was in that world but no one, not even my own family knew about it. I was a person that was grown up “in” the church and I struggled with this sin. I judged myself about it and thought I in my heart was unchangeable.

But God revealed His love to me in a special way. There was a musician that I read about and I think God wanted me to read about him. The guy said he was that way too but was transformed by the blood of Jesus! Wait…. what he was like, I was like that too…. you mean, I could also be changed?

I thought out of everyone I was one of the “unchangeable.” It was a thought, a judgement I had put on myself. But according to a one who was saved I found out as a young teen I could be changed as well!

Wow. So God really can change anyone!

He can and that is a part of my testimony, Amen. I only tell it to the ones who want to hear because they need to hear this news.

You must know this wondrous news of the love of Jesus Christ because if He died for me He died for all people like me as well!

Jesus went through so much; he was tortured, humiliated, stripped naked, and He was hung on a cross for all to see. The people all laughed and shamed Him, mocked Him too.

They could not understand that this was not just the son of God but the King of the Jews! Because they were full of sin (like the world’s sin) they in turn spit on Him and made fun of the one who loved them so much.

He was hurt, beaten, whipped, and He bled so much! He was hurt for our transgressions the world’s sins. And He died even for You.

Did you know that if you were the only one who lived on this earth Christ would die for you too? It is true!

That is how impactful God’s love is. He loves us all so much!

He also showed that He had power over the grave as God had authority over even death! Christ died but He didn’t rot away in the tomb just to be no more.

He didn’t come back only as a spirit, not true! He rose from the grave bodily, walked out and returned to the heavenly Father.

And one day He is coming again.

So like a gift we must all realize how much He loves us. All He wants is not an agenda or a place to go to to hang out and chill (the church, hahaha) but is true love to be revealed and given for You. Love that pierces hearts that are hurting.

Are you hurting today? Do you need to know the love of Jesus?

Pray with me something like this:

“God I hear that You sent Your son Jesus to die on the cross for my sin. I know that I cannot go to heaven without your gift of eternal life. I accept that gift of life because Your son died for me and I thank you during this time. I know that You love me and I want to have a relationship with You.”

I will pray anyone who reads it will have their broken hearts heal today. It is a time to heal and so much things that might and will probably be tough, but it is so worth it to know His love. Amen.

I have too much of a busy schedule, it feels like to me. I am grateful to work but sometimes I can’t even rest. I’ve got work on the weekends and plus at church I couldn’t even stay because of duties so I had to up and exit the sanctuary. I hope this all doesn’t overwhelm me! Sigh*~

Hello. I hope you have had a relaxing Memorial Day of reflection as well as just time off to have fun and enjoy life.

You know sometimes we take it for granted this thing called life. We think we have all the time in the world so we turn to back things that we were rescued from and get ourselves stuck into the “pit” again and again.

What is the “pit” you wonder? It is the trap that we sometimes ensnare for ourselves. At first it is temptation leading to giving in to the sin. But if we are not serious about repentance, the telling to God that we are sorry and we turn away and will go back to Him, we get ourselves led back into falling again.

Falling and getting out. Repeat.

That struggle can be so discouraging. A person I know unfortunately has turned that way and ended up not in this world anymore. It’s sad to see someone that knew the truth be in a situation that they did not want to leave.

But our sin sometimes gets us in a loop.

I’ve been in that “loop” many times. Saying “I’m sorry God, forgive me…” then doing that deed again.

Sometimes we may get deeper, knowing that we shouldn’t but that want to turn from God is just too good, like a piece of your favorite dessert.

Then you partake and realize you are not satisfied. You can never be satisfied.

Yet it is so seemingly enjoyable to get into again… we’ll think maybe this time we will get it right and it will be so “good”!

But it never is. Why is that?

Because we live in a fallen world and we desire something but the thing that was our first want was to sin. After the fall of the world through one man who had the responsibility to say no there was sin that entered the world.

And sin is evil!

It is the world: it is all bad, it is fallen, the reason we have death and so much bad in this place here on earth.

But if you know Christ, should you keep heading down this path? As in getting into tons of stuff you shouldn’t?

Paul has said something about that. Should we keep sinning harshly just because we have a savior to turn to that will have God forgive us?

Yes or no?

What do you think?

I think that we are free to do what we want but if we want to serve God we have to realize we should make more decisions for the Lord.

That means though our sin nature fights it at times, we have to look to God in all circumstances if we want to serve Him.

A servant of Jesus should not be turning to ways of the world as a daily ritual. That makes our hearts unclean when they should be filled by the Holy Spirit.

That makes us less like a lover of Christ and more like a person of solitude because of sins.

Or a person that just wants to neglect all that God’s will has for them and will be provided to them.

That means not looking to other ways for truth and instead keeping your eyes on the mount and our feet firmly on solid ground. The ground of the Rock, the solid place of Jesus Christ.

We can continue on and live with prospering lives if we deny ourselves and seek His will. But God still does want us to make our own choices.

We don’t have to do that because God wants us to follow Him. There is no way but Jesus. God’s word says: Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”

And Jesus made that way, did the penalty for us and our sin. He died on the cross, rose again, and lives in Heaven one day coming to do the final things this earth has yet to see.

Would you want your friends to fall into those days? I don’t think so. We should live as pure hearts of Jesus’ love, sacrifice our time, give our lives so that people would learn of the truth, and just be love to them.

Just showing love is the first step. How do you want to do it?

That is the one step where there is the undoing of sin. If your heart is clean because of forgiveness or because you show His love to others around you, what does that say to your life?

You are a new creation in Christ. Your old self died with Him on the cross. That person is now no longer a part of you… isn’t that exciting???

To have no more sin to account against you and make you dead to the world and to go to hell… because of Christ that is no longer a part of you.

Amen! We should share this news and love and mercy to others because He makes all things possible. And He will undo so much bad stuff in others lives as a result. It is His power. We must know that love can sweep it all away, move and change hearts, and give people a brand new purpose!

How sweet is that news?

Let’s as Christians (or if you are a new Christian or interested, message me on comments) see God undo the chains we sometimes let ourselves get shackled with and serve with lives pleasing to Him…

This Memorial Day shouldbe a time of remembering sacrifice but I also want to share some extra thoughts as well.

We should be grateful of the ones who fight for our country, the ones who lay down their lives everyday so that we could have freedom.

You know there is a television show that came out some decades ago and one of the stories touched my heart. On the show MASH there was a sequence where Radar and another person were observing women possibly slaves scanning a field for mines.

They didn’t like knowing that someone had ordered people who were human beings to go outside and use sticks to touch possible explosives that were hidden in the high grass.

Suddenly without warning a mine goes off and a woman drops. Radar, thinking and caring for her safety and not thinking of his own charges into the field as the other person shouts for him not to go out there.

He grabs her and carries her to where the other soldier is possibly going to get her medical treatment.

Now just typing that now I got really emotional again. I don’t get that way because I think a tv show is real (it’s just a dern piece of media, hehe!)… what gently moves my heart is that it is representative of the soldier.

They go far to help fellow brothers, or fellow soldiers even if their own safety is at stake. They’d drop onto the mine and let it detonate themselves just so their friends would be safe. They’d make the sacrifice that many of us today either take for granted or think of our own troubles which are small and petty sometimes versus what they still go through to this day.

We, wherever we come from, have a military that is fighting for freedom in your place, your country, your continent that you live in.

“Fighting for freedom in your place” I hadn’t meant to say that. Now that reminds me of something else__:

God made a way by sending his son Jesus Christ to day in your place. Do you think this is just religion? No, sometimes we do things in a religious way but that is doing so in the wrong heart. Religion is false but a relationship with Jesus is true. It starts with our realization that God loves us, He wants us to know that He could save us because of what He had done and what His son had done which was die bodily on the cross and then in three days, rise again, bodily and wholly, and go to Heaven, ensuring us He is one day coming again.

Did you know that God loves you so much? You may be hurting but no matter what you are going through He still loves you. He makes you know that all He wants is for you to know Him. He wants a relationship with you. If you do, you will be blessed in ways this world will not understand but you will know in your heart what He has done.

There is mercy by what was done through the cross. His son took all of your and the world’s sin. He also bled on the cross which is why we needed our sins paid for and forgiven. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

He was like a lamb to be sacrificed but He was THE lamb, the ultimate and only sacrifice that would cover all sin.

God has made His people and they need to be saved because of sin. We all sinned and not one is innocent except Jesus who was and is man and God.

He redeemed the people who are willing to hear, would you want to know of Christ’s sacrifice?

Again drawing attention on Memorial day I have posted a pic on social media that has made me want to cry. I first saw it in high school, it is a painting, a portrait of a man standing at the Vietnam Memorial. His head is bowed and he is crying as he puts his hand on the wall full of the names of the people who died during that war.

In the reflection is a hand touching his. It is his younger self… and he and his fellow fallen troop are staring back at him.

It makes me cry and I know one person who served this country. He doesn’t seem to understand that I am moved by what the soldier has done for this country.

It seems he feels that a person has to serve the country to appreciate it. I myself have never served but I get emotional at their ultimate sacrifice.

I also was moved reading a book about C. S. Lewis. He has served his country and when he struggled with if God existed or not became bitter to the world. He later was changed by Christ and became one of the biggest defender and apologetics in the faith.

He also was used in sad situations, almost like men and women willing to be sacrificed in time as they’d know Jesus.

He was told to give a sermon to a huge team of pilots. As they explained the real reason he was surprised (he probably was going to cry at the thought). They were concerned for these pilots’ souls. They were more than likely about to head to their deaths (it was like a 90% chance of fatality for them) as they would head toward enemy territory, protecting their land at home. They would probably get hit by antagonistic warfare fighting for their side.

C. S. Lewis preached to these people. And God’s Word was not returned void.

So do you want to know of the Ultimate Sacrifice of Christ? He lived in a holy land and because of sin was ordered by the people (no different than us) to die on the cross for blaspheming that He was the King, the I Am. He was the king of the Jews but the Lord can also be lord of our hearts and our lives.

God would not want you to perish from sin and be separated from Him for all eternity. This life may not be our only one but it is critical if you have thoughts that are not right to what God wants for you.

God wants you to know He loves you. He provided the way and He can through His Son and provide the way in your life today.

Accept Christ. It is the best gift you could receive today.

Your sin can only get you one way, but Christ died for it so that you wouldn’t end up in that place called hell.

His death was for your life; his payment gave you the chance to be accepted into His kingdom. Pray and know the Lord today.

If you know the Lord then God says you are one of His people and He is your God. He loves you and I hope you experience His amazing grace, something He gives us that we do not deserve.

How exciting it is that He is your God?? You can stand in true spiritual freedom if it is so.

God bless you and meditate on the Lord this Memorial Day.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Has anyone seen that movie “First Sunday” with Ice Cube and Tracy Morgan? I love that film. It is so beautiful. That’s not because of it’s “preachy” message but that under its heart it shows the depths of God’s Love.

As the characters go through so much toil in looking for a job they give up and turn to crime. Now what would you think? Do you think going to church the people there would look at them and go “What? They did what? They’re not allowed here!”

I’m kind of going away from the main conventions of the story but I’m trying to prove a point. The point is what the church, the people of believers in Christ do. Now they could turn people away that are like that but that is in their heart and their heart would be wrong in doing so.

These people show such love. This is not because being loving is a “good” thing but because the greater one in their lives changed their hearts and that is Jesus Christ.

God can do amazing things in the church, outside it, and just about anywhere! We just need to find in our hearts to seek the Kingdom of God His righteousness and He because of Jesus who died for us lead the way!